National doppler radar archive#

Precipitation products are estimated ground accumulated rainfall. This product is an excellent tool for meteorologists in weather forecasting, severe weather, and aviation. The current (far right) and up to 10 previous plots may be displayed simultaneously.

VAD Wind Profile (NVW/48)Ī graphic display of wind barbs plotted on a height staff in 1,000-ft increments. Scientists use this product to quickly estimate the most intense convection and higher echo tops, as an aid to identify storm structure features, and for pilot briefing purposes. This product generates a color coded image that shows the height of an echo top. This product is used as an effective hail indicator, to locate most significant storms, and to identify areas of heavy rainfall. The water content of a 2.2 x 2.2 nm column of air, which is color-coded and plotted on a 48-nm map. This product is used to reveal the highest reflectivities in all echoes, examine storm structure features, and determine intensity of storms. Composite Reflectivity (NCR/37)Ī display of maximum reflectivity for the total volume within the range of the radar. When the FAA updated TDWR between January 2017 and May 2019, the elevation angle of this product became the same as the lowest elevation Reflectivity product (TR0 or TZ0).

Long Range Digital Base Reflectivity (TZL/186)ĭigital Reflectivity data are measured at an elevation angle of 0.6 degrees with a maximum range of 225 nm. Data for the three lowest elevation angles are available, with a maximum range of 48 nm. These products are used to estimate wind speed and direction, locate boundaries, locate severe weather signatures, and identify suspected areas of turbulence. Cool colors (green) represent negative values and warm colors (red) represent positive values. Digital Base Velocity (TV0, TV1, TV2/182)Ī measure of the radial component of the wind either toward (negative values) or away from (positive values) the radar. The three lowest elevation angles are available with a maximum range of 48 nautical miles (nm). These products are used to detect precipitation, evaluate storm structure, locate boundaries, and determine hail potential. Digital Base Reflectivity (TR0, TR1, TR2/181 or after TZ0, TZ1, TZ2/180)Ī display of echo intensity measured in dBZ. General products include Base Reflectivity and Base Velocity as well as graphical products derived from algorithms including Spectrum Width, Vertically Integrated Liquid, and the Velocity Azimuth Display (VAD) Wind Profile. See Data Certification for more information on hard copy radar products, pricing, and certification information. Each copy includes state, county, and city background maps.

Most Level-III products are available as digital images, color or grayscale hard copy, and acetate overlay copies. NCEI provides access to 26 TDWR Level-III products. A data file consists of a 24-byte volume scan header record followed by numerous 2,432-byte base data and message records. Data are stored in files that typically contain four, five, six, or ten minutes of base data. Level-II data are grouped into three meteorological base quantities: reflectivity, mean radial velocity, and spectrum width. NCEI provides access to all TDWR Level-II data. The data access pages include lists or visualizations of file availability that document these absences.

National doppler radar archive#

Note: There are occasional gaps and missing data for each site in the archive that are caused by scheduled maintenance at radar sites, unplanned downtime due to severe weather, communications problems, archival problems, and other issues related to maintenance and infrastructure. The online store provides access to documentation, paper copies of data, and other related products.